Young comparative degree. Degrees of comparison

ONLY QUALITATIVE APPENDICES HAVE DEGREES OF COMPARISON!

Qualitative adjectives differ in that they can denote a sign in varying degrees of its manifestation ( large - larger - largest). These forms are called degrees of comparison:

Comparative

Excellent

The paradigm of degrees of comparison also includes the adjective from which forms of degrees of comparison are formed. The semantic basis of the degrees of comparison is a quantitative assessment of the measure of a feature. In the paradigm of degrees of comparison, the original adjective is called the positive degree form.

Comparative degree (comparative) - denotes a quality that is in any object to a greater extent than in another, the name of which is put in the form of gender case or name case; the latter is preceded by a comparative union How(the truth is more expensive than gold).

Superlative degree (superlative) - denotes the highest degree of quality in any subject in comparison with another: favorite writer; inflected like ordinary adjectives.

Comparative and superlative degrees can be expressed in simple (synthetic) and complex (analytical) forms.

comparative

The simple form of the comparative degree does not change in gender, number and case; and therefore it must be able to distinguish it from the form of the comparative degree of the adverb. If a word of this type is syntactically related to noun, then compare the degree of the adjective, if connected with a verb, then compare the degree of the adverb ( oak is stronger than birch- an addendum; he gripped the handle tighter- adverb)

Forms of a comparative degree tend to be used in a position with a ligament, i.e. in the role of a predicate, but it can also be a definition.

Formed from the stem of the original adjective using suffixes - her (s) - bolder,whiter(productive way) or - e, - more - more expensive, richer(unproductive way).

From adjectives based on k, r, x and some words stemming from d, t, st comparative degree formed by suffix –E(while the final consonant stems alternate with hissing) ( loud - louder, quiet - quieter, steep - cooler). In adjectives on -OK and -To the generating stem is truncated, the remaining final consonant alternates with a hissing or paired soft ( high - higher, low - lower).

Comparative forms with suffix –Yes single ( far - farther, early - earlier, long - longer).

From three adjectives, the form is formed in the supplementary way ( small - less, good - better, bad - worse).

Forms of a comparative degree are not formed from adjectives that call signs that do not change in degrees. Sometimes they are not formed in accordance with the usus, and not the meaning ( decrepit, alien, scanty).

The complex form of degrees of comparison is formed by the addition of the word more... Moreover, such combinations can be formed with a short form ( faster, more red).

Superlative degree

The simple form of the superlative degree has features in its meaning: in addition to the above-mentioned basic meaning of the superiority of quality in an object compared to other objects, this form can denote the highest, limiting degree of quality in any object without comparison with others. In other words, it can mean an irrespectively high degree of quality: worst enemy, the kindest creature.

The simple form is formed by attaching a suffix -Eish (-eish). At the same time, it is not formed from all adjectives, usually it is not for those lexemes from which the form of the comparative degree is not formed. It may also be absent in those forms that have the form of a comparative degree. These are quality adjectives with suffixes -Ast-, -ist, as well as many words with suffixes - liv-, -chiv-, -k-(narrow - narrower, hairy - hairy, silent - more silent).

A complex form is formed by a combination of a quality adjective and a word most... It is not related to lexical restrictions: the reddest, the kindest, the narrowest.

For adjectives with suffixes –Owat - (- evat-) no superlative form is formed because the value of the incomplete characteristic is incompatible with the value of the high degree of the characteristic ( deafest, most deafish).

The superlative shape denotes the highest quality. In contrast to the comparative degree, the forms of the superlative degree cannot express a comparative assessment of the degree of a feature in the same subject and in two subjects.

comparative and the superlative degree of adjectives is used very often both orally and in written speech... And this applies not only to the Russian language. Today we are interested in foreign vocabulary, namely the comparative and superlative degree in English language... Nowadays, there is more and more need to communicate in it. In order to speak correctly, and to be understood correctly by the foreigners around you, you need to study the rules for the formation of these degrees.

What is an adjective

Before we talk about how comparative and superlative degrees are formed in English, let's take a quick look at the adjective itself. What is this part of speech? In a nutshell, an adjective is used when we need to describe an object, person or process. Answering questions what?, what?, what?, what?, this part of speech helps us not only to describe them, but also to compare with each other, as well as to declare the superiority of a particular object or character.

• We live in this big home for a very long time.
• old the park looks much it is better early in the morning.
• We are the youngest specialists in this field.

The highlighted words clearly show what function the adjective performs in the sentence. This function is definition. And in this sense, there is no difference between Russian and English.

Comparison Degrees: Rule

Comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives are two of the three forms in which this part of speech can be used. There are three degrees of comparison in total:

• Positive - here the adjective has its own initial form, for example: white, thick, tall, nice, etc.
• Comparative - this form is used when we want to compare something with something, to show the advantage of something over something, for example: better, taller, thicker, smarter, smaller, etc.
• Excellent - we use this option when we want to show that someone or something has the highest degree of quality, for example: highest, most expensive, best, least, etc.

The choice of the word variant depends on what idea you want to convey to the interlocutor. We will consider all the possible rules for the education of both degrees separately.

comparative

In English grammar, there are rules by which both the comparative and the superlative are formed. Exercises to test understanding of this topic are aimed at ensuring that you correctly form one degree or another with any adjective. Let's start by looking at the comparative form. In order to form a comparative form from any adjective, you need to follow these rules:

• If the word is monosyllabic or two-syllable, but the stress falls on the first syllable, then we add the suffix "er" to it: smart (smart) - smarter (smarter); hard (heavy) - harder (heavier).

• If the word ends with "e", one letter "r" is added to it: large (large) - larger (larger); polite (polite) - politer (more polite).

• If a monosyllabic word ends with a consonant, preceded by a short vowel sound, then the last letter is doubled when a suffix is ​​added: big (big) - bigger (more); hot (hot) - hotter (hotter).

• If the adjective ends with the letter "y", when the suffix is ​​added, it changes to "i": noisy (noisy) - noisier (more noisy); easy - easier.

• If an adjective has more than two syllables, no suffix is ​​added to it. We put before this adjective the comparative adverb "more", which in translation into Russian means "more": beautiful (beautiful) - more beautiful (more beautiful); interesting - more interesting.

• If it is necessary to indicate that the quality is lower than that of another object, then instead of the above-mentioned word we take "less", translated as "less": beautiful (beautiful) - less beautiful (less beautiful); interesting (interesting) - less interesting (less interesting).

Thus, we can easily form sentences where we want to compare the qualities of different objects.

Superlative degree

Comparative degree and superlative degree are very easily formed by Russian-speaking users, since the concept of comparison and superiority is very similar to what we know in Russian. So, for the education of the last degree, we need to apply concepts such as "most, most / least". But here, too, there are certain rules that must be followed:

• If the word has one syllable, we add the suffix "est" to such an adjective, while the article "the" will be in front of the newly formed word: smart (smart) - the smartest (smartest); hard - the hardest.

• If there is an “e” ending at the end of a word, we will only use the “st” suffix: large - the largest; polite (polite) - the politest (most polite).

• If a word ends in a consonant preceded by a short vowel sound, we double the last letter in the letter. In speech it does not manifest itself in any way: big (big) - the biggest; hot - the hottest.

• If the letter y is in the last place in the word, we change it to i when adding a suffix: noisy - the noisiest; easy - the easiest.

• For long polysyllabic words, there is another way of education. We put the adverb "the most" before the word, which translates as "the most, the most, the most": beautiful (beautiful) - the most beautiful (the most beautiful); interesting - the most interesting.

• If you need to indicate that the quality is the lowest, then instead of the word "most", we take "the least", translated as "least": beautiful (beautiful) - the least beautiful (least beautiful); interesting - the least interesting.

• There are two words. In this case, we also put these adverbs in front of them: easy-going (sociable) - more easy-going (more sociable) - the most easy-going (most sociable); easy-going (sociable) - less easy-going (less sociable) - the least easy-going (least sociable).

Comparative and Superlative: Words of Exception

There are words that, despite all the existing rules, form degrees in their own way. Such words must be learned by heart. The comparative degree and superlative degree of such words are placed in a separate table.

When using a word that consists of two components, one of which is an exception, you need to use exactly its form: good-looking (beautiful) - better-looking (more beautiful) - the best-looking (the most beautiful).

Stable phrases

Both the comparative degree and the superlative degree are used in sentences as part of special designs. Most often these are the following options:

• The design is "the ... the ...". The more I read, the more I know. The more I read, the more I know.
• The construction "as ... as ...". He is as tall as his brother. He is as tall as his brother.
• The construction is "not so ... as ...". She is not so fit as me. She's not as slim as me.

These are the most common sentences in which we use the mentioned degrees of comparison.

Having saved us from the need to memorize endings, the English adjective over time (namely centuries) has ceased to change in numbers, gender and cases. But, as you know, all the difficulties did not have time to disappear: the degrees of comparison (Degrees of Comparison) did not disappear and continue to "delight" the students. Why are they needed? Will the richest speech means not allow us to do without all these additional forms?

Yes, they won't. All our life we ​​compare people and objects: someone is taller, someone is more beautiful, someone has a more powerful car. And all these thoughts need to be able to express in English. Every day we choose the best, the most interesting and exciting. The use of degrees of comparison is relevant in any language, because we are constantly looking for excellence. If you have already started studying this foreign language, then this topic should be mastered 100%.

So, first, remember that there are adjectives quality (Qualitative) and relative (Relative). And only the first group can be used in our rule.

Three degrees of comparison of adjectives in English: positive, comparative, superlative degrees.

Sometimes we just use the adjective as a characteristic. Hence, we use a positive degree. If you say that a certain quality is more pronounced in one object than in another, then you need a comparative one. And in the excellent, we want to show that the object acts in the role of the very-very. Let's take a look at some examples.

Positive (Positive or absolute) is the usual form, such as that in which the adjective appears in the dictionary:

interesting - big - clever

This house is big.

Comparative degree of adjectives in English (comparative) used when it is necessary to compare two or more objects, persons. In Russian it sounds like this: bigger, more beautiful, more interesting, older.

bigger, colder, more difficult.

This house is bigger than that. This house is bigger than that.

Superlative degree in English (superlative) indicates that the object or person has the highest quality characteristics. In Russian it sounds like this: the best is the best; the kindest - the kindest; the smallest is the smallest. In English, it is always accompanied by the article "the" and is also formed in two ways:

the biggest, the most interesting.

This house is the biggest. This house is the largest.

Education

Now is the time to consider the formation of degrees of comparison in English. How to add? When? How to write correctly?

Only two of them are worth considering here. After all, the positive completely coincides with its vocabulary form. Comparative and superlative degrees in English are formed taking into account some peculiarities and rules. Divide all adjectives mentally into groups: monosyllabic a plus disyllabic ending in –Y, -er, -ow, -ble(this will be the first), disyllabic and polysyllabic(second).

1. Simple (monosyllabic)

Add suffix for comparison "Er" to the base of the word, and to indicate the superiority of quality - article the+ adjective + “est”.

short - shorter - the shortest

short - shorter - shortest

When adding suffixes, there are some writing features:

a. If at the end of a word there is "Y", and in front of it there is a consonant, then "Y" changes to “I”:

Lovely - lovelier - the loveliest

cute - sweeter - sweetest

But if "Y" is preceded by a vowel, then no changes need to be made, just a suitable suffix is ​​added.

b. If at the end of a word there is “E”, then when adding suffixes "Er" or "Est", only one is saved “E”:

Simple - simpler - the simplest

simple - simpler - most simple / simplest

c. If a word ends in a consonant, and it is preceded by one short vowel, that is, it has a stressed short syllable, then we double the last letter:

Hot - hotter - the hottest

hot - hottest - hottest

And everything would be cloudless if it were not for the exceptions to this rule. Therefore, when studying this topic, it is important not only to understand, but also to strain the gyrus a little.

Exceptions

Good - better - the best ( good is better- the best)

Bad - worse - the worst

Little - less - the least

Many - more - the most - by quantity

Near - nearer - the nearest - by distance

Near - nearer - the next (close - closer - next in line, in time, in order)

Far - farther - the farthest - by distance

Far - further - the furthest - according to information, actions

Old - older - the oldest

Old - elder - the eldest - about family members

Late - later - the latest

Late - the latter - the last

2. Complex (more than two syllables in a word)

To compare two or more qualitative characteristics, it is necessary to use "More", and characterizing the highest qualities - "The most". However, the adjective remains unchanged.

popular - more popular - the most popular

popular - most popular - most popular

The English language is often filled with various exceptions. There is more than one in this rule. So, you need to remember a few more words that can form degrees of comparison in English. two ways, i.e. using “er” and “est”, “more” and “the most” / ”the least”:

Angry, common, friendly, cruel, gentle, narrow, handsome, polite, pleasant, serious, quite, simple, clever, sour.

In conclusion, I would like to remind you that the English adjective is very scrupulous about what you will add to it and from which side. Therefore, in addition to studying theory, engage in solid practice, because only exercises will help you bring your knowledge to automatism. Improve your language: use comparative and superlative adjectives and make your speech more literate, richer and more interesting.

Adjectives in Russian. They are irreplaceable when it is necessary to compare one characteristic of an object or phenomenon with another. Let's try to understand the intricacies of this topic.

Adjective

Before you start studying the topic "Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives in Russian", you need to find out how this part of speech differs from all others. And she really has a lot of features. It is difficult to imagine our speech without this colorful, graceful group. With the help of adjectives, we describe appearance (short, handsome, unsightly), character (kind, grumpy, difficult), age (young, old). However, not only human qualities, but also much more can be represented with their help. For example, none piece of art does not do without the use of adjectives. And the lyrics and even more so. Thanks to this part of speech, stories, poems, and stories acquire expressiveness and imagery.

Helps to form such artistic means, as epithets (dazzling beauty, wonderful morning), metaphors of a stone heart), comparisons (looks like the happiest; the sky is like azure watercolor).

A distinctive feature of adjectives is their ability to form short forms... The latter always play the role of a predicate in a sentence, which gives this part of speech another advantage - to give dynamics to any text.

What is a Degree?

Anyone who studies Russian is faced with this question. Comparison of adjectives is a characteristic that helps to compare one subject with another.

For example, we have two balls in front of us. They are exactly the same, only one of them is slightly different in size. We need to compare them with each other and draw a conclusion: one ball more another. We can approach this issue from another angle and note that one ball less than the second. And in fact, and in another case, we used a word that characterizes the degree of comparison of these objects.

Now let's add to our subjects one more, the same, but much larger. We need to distinguish it from others. How are we going to do this? Use comparison, of course. Only now it is necessary to indicate that the third ball differs from the first and the second at once. In this case, we say that he biggest among them.

That is why we need them.We will tell you about each of their types in detail below.

comparative

When we have an adjective in front of us, which no one compares with anything, then it is characterized by a positive degree. But if one subject needs to be compared with another, then we will use the comparative degree of the adjective.

It has two subspecies. The first is called simple, or suffix. This means that the word used in this degree has a suffix characteristic of it.

For example: This table chic... Neighbor's table smarter our.

In the first case, the adjective is in a positive degree. In the second, the suffix "her" was added to it and with the help of this they compared one table with another.

The second kind is the compound degree. As the name suggests, its formation does not occur with the help of morphemes, but with the use of special words.

For instance: This project very successful... The last project was more successful.

The word "more" helps us compare one project to another.

Another example: We got valuable information. The previous one turned out to be less valuable.

Now with the word "less" we have indicated a sign that manifested itself to a lesser extent.

It is worth remembering that the degrees of comparison of adjectives in the Russian language, regardless of the varieties, are formed only from Neither possessive nor relative possess this ability.

Superlative degree

In some situations, we need not just to compare one object or phenomenon with another, but to distinguish it from all those similar to it. And here we will also be helped by the degree of comparison of adjectives in Russian. This degree of comparison is called excellent, which already implies the highest limit.

Like the comparative one, it has two varieties.

A simple degree is formed with suffixes.

For example: Ivanov strongest of all athletes on the team.

The word “strong” with the suffix -eysh- formed and distinguished the athlete Ivanov among other members of the national team.

Next example: New tulle the most beautiful of those that I have seen.

In this case, the auxiliary word "most" gave this sentence the same meaning as in the previous example. This form is called composite.

Sometimes it can be accompanied by the prefix "na-" for amplification: the most beautiful.

Peculiarities

In some cases, forms of degrees of comparison of adjectives have exceptions.

These include the words "good" and "bad". When we begin to compare objects with their help, we will face some difficulties.

For example: We conducted good evening. Let's try to form a chain of degrees of comparison.

In a simple comparative, we will see that the word "good" does not exist. "Better" comes to replace him. And to the word "bad" we will choose "worse". Such a phenomenon in Russian is called the suppletivism of the foundations. This means that the word must be radically changed in order to form a comparative degree.

Conclusion

Thus, we managed to find out not only the basics, but also some of the nuances on the topic "Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives in Russian".

Now this rule will not cause you any difficulties, since it is not difficult at all.